Favorite Drugstore Matte Bronzers

Most of my bronzer collection is shimmery- mostly higher end bronzer's as well. Those are great for all over the face, and they do just fine for contouring but won't look as flattering as a matte bronzer. I always heard of contouring with a normal face powder a few shades darker than your skin tone {which is a great idea} but I found a couple bronzers that are even better and depending on sales, are most likely even cheaper.

The brush that I use almost every single day for contouring is Sigma's Large Angled Contour Brush F40. I bought it a couple years ago and it is still going strong! I really like to use Real Techniques Contour Brush which is much a much smaller dome shaped brush. It get's right into the hollows of your cheeks so well but I try to reserve that brush for highlighter only for cross contamination pigmentation reasons.

NYC Color Wheel Mosaic

All Over Bronze Glow

I have heard about this bronzer over and over again and never pulled the trigger until my bff bought it. It is only a few bucks and is worth every penny. This is the only thing I own from NYC. I usually pass them up for some reason but I want to try some more of their products. If this bronzer is a testament to their other products, NYC could be one of the best brands at the drugstore. The texture of it is kind of hard to the touch {which made it hard to swatch} but it goes on so lightly and looks so subtle while still contouring because of that. There is no need to worry about being heavy handed with it.

Revlon Photo Ready

Bronzed and Chic

This bronzer feels more velvety to the touch. In comparison to NYC it is a little bit more softer, which makes it more pigmented. It is also a little deeper than NYC's bronzer- just a touch.  Either of these bronzers will work well for fair skin tones but this one will work better than NYC for a medium skin tone- the lightest color out of the four colors is deeper than the lightest color in NYC's {clearly}.  This one is also easier to use for skin tones ranging in color because it is easy to choose your color. As you can see, you have 4 choices and can dip your brush in all of the quadrants, half of them, or just one color. The quadrants are just big enough to fit any angled contour brush into. I tend to swirl each color and that is how I got the color you see in the swatch.

Something that these bronzers have in common is the pigment. These aren't like blushes I have used in the past or an eyeshadow that is so pigmented that even if you touch it, you will get one heavy swatch. The swatches you see here are heavy handed swatches. I really wanted to show you each color and how they are different. However, I don't think this is a deal breaker in the world of matte bronzers. When I use my angled contour brush with these bronzers, they apply just fine and look like a natural contour. You can see a difference on the face. If they were more pigmented, it would be harder to get a subtle difference. So when you use a face powder or an eyeshadow to contour, it doesn't look as natural in my opinion. Each of these bronzers have that same medium brown color with a slight orange background  which makes it a bit more forgiving on the face. Cooler, deeper, bronzers seem to look muddy on my skin. I have fair, cool toned skin.

I hauled Revlon's bronzed and Chic in this video along with a ton of other drugstore makeup! Check it out-

till next time,

Erica

Mind Body Beauty's First Give-Away

R u ready?!

Omg I have been collecting stuff for months now.....haha. Here's the deal. I got my job I am at now back in November and it is the longest standing job I have had and I am so exited that I found somewhere that I can be of service. I actually feel like I bring something to the table here. No, I don't make a ton of money but enough to do some fun things. My blog is one of those things I save money for and this is the type of stuff I spend that money on. I am blessed. Which means I want to bless u all. And I am already collecting stuff for a new give-away. I hope to shoot for the middle of summer with that one. When I first started my blog, it was formerly Meet Makeup. I had a giveaway 2 Christmases ago {wow. that long ago?} when I was Meet Makeup.

In light of GFC being done with at the beginning of July, I figured this was the perfect time to give-away some stuff to encourage everyone to follow me on Bloglovin. That's the catch. Follow me on Bloglovin. I am really bummed about GFC closing down. I think every blogger is nervous that blogger blogs will be forgotten about. Maybe I should switch platforms? Like Wordpress? But I like the community here so if your a blogger like me, I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below.

The Good Stuff

 Physician's Formula 
Happy Booster

Remember my CVS haul? That was fun. This was the only thing I paid for thanks to CVS extra bucks. That's another story. I figured this would make a great prize because Physician's Formula is one of my favorite brands, especially their blushes and bronzers. You get two in one. Pretty awesome.

Wet n Wild Trio

Silent Treatment

This is probably of my favorite trio from Wet n Wild. I almost bought a Physician's Formula eyeshadow palette but the Wet n Wild one's are more pigmented. They also really know how to pair colors. I never see an ugly color from them. That Lid shade is to die for. The crease shadow is extremely dark. The brow bone shade is a little more sheer but I use a fluffy blending brush to apply it underneath my brow bone anyways rather than a dense pack-it-on brush. It gives a softer finish that way.

Sweet Spun Sugar Candle

Target

I love these candles. I have a few of them. They have a great scent throw and this one smells amazing. I would say it smells more like a juicy candy rather than cotton candy. I figured this would be the most universal fragrance. I hope you enjoy it! (:

Donna Michelle

Caviar Beads

There is a secret about these that I talk about in the video (: I love these and use these all the time. I only do my bling finger as there just isnt enough to do all 5 nails. But it makes for a killer mani!

Kardashian Kolor {Nicole by OPI}

"Sophisti-Cuties"

This is a fun little try-em-before-you-buy-em type of gift set. I have this set and the pink set and I really like these nail polishes. They dry to a really glossy and hard finish. I love using Khlow had a Lam-Lam with the gold caviar beads. So dang cute!

The Official Rules 

{1 is mandatory. You can do both and you will get 5 extra entries.}

-Follow me on Bloglovin.

-Subscribe to the Mind Body Beauty Youtube channel.

once you have done one or the other, leave a comment in the comments section here on MBB or the giveaway video on Youtube.

You can tell me....

what you want to see in future give-aways.

what you thoughts are about GFC and changing platforms.

what you like about my blog/videos

what you think I can improve on

whatever your inspired to talk about, say it!

The comment goes hand in hand with the first two. So pick one, or do both and get the extra entries but I need to know you want to be entered so leave a comment.

Extra entries:

There are a ton:

1 point:

• Like the Youtube Give-Away Video
• Follow me on twitter. 
• Tweet about my give-away {leave the url below}
• Follow me on instagram.
• Follow Mind Body Beauty {or all the boards} on Pinterest!
• Re-Pin the giveaway on a board of your own

5 points:

• Mind Body Beauty now has a Facebook page! Like it 
• Blog about the give-away
• Put the give-Away in your side bar {along with the 1st picture}
• If your a blogger yourself, feel free to add this giveaway to your sidebar, using that first picture.
• Feel free to write a blog post about the giveaway

Comment Template:
Your Name:
Your E-Mail:

Bloglovin' URL:

Youtube Name:

Answer to any question:

Twitter Handle:

The twitter URL if you tweeted about the giveaway: 
Instagram Handle:
Pinterest Handle:
Blog URL:
Blog post URL to the blog post's if you blogged about it:


So leave your info in the comments!

The giveaway will end on July 4th and I can ship to anywhere in the US!

It will be announced....
On the youtube video
On this blog
Twitter
Facebook

Good Luck

xoxo
Erica

2012 Besties Awards

 I came up with this catchy name for this short little series I am doing on my favorite products from 2012. There may not be something from every category, but each one of these things I have used and loved all last year. A lot of times, I get swept up in brand new products and love them to death for the first couple weeks {honeymoon phase} then they seem to fall by the wayside. Everything in the Besties Awards have been long lasting romances throughout the whole year. These are things I go back to time and time again.

Best Setting Spray

Urban Decay De-Slick: 

I have tried the All Nighter Setting Spray from Urban Decay and ELF's Setting Spray and this one was my favorite. Surprisingly, I have dry and oily skin. I found that De-Slick made my makeup last longer than any of them and gave my face a nice matte finish. I used this during the summer too and it was a life saver! Here's the full review.

Best Concealer

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Treatment:

Maybelline's concealers are a long time favorite. This concealer is perfect for underneath the eyes. It is really thin but gives full coverage and seriously brightens underneath my eyes. The only down side is that the packaging on mine is broken so I have to work at it to twist up more product. If your looking for a good concealer for both under the eyes and on dark spots/pimples, try Maybelline's 24/7 Concealer.

Best Foundation

Revlon Color Stay:

I have tried so many foundations in the past couple of years and I always end up going back to this. Nothing is as full coverage as Color Stay. When they say color stay, they mean it! It dries rather quickly so blending it right away is a must. Once it is actually set, it makes my skin look flawless and gorgeous and covers everything and will stay put all day long.

Best Highlight

ELF Radiance Enhancer in Spotlight: 

Another thing from the Holy Grail page. This is one of those highlighters that have a duo-chrome finish. I wouldn't say this is glittery, instead shimmery. When it hits the light, it really does radiate. For $3, it really doesn't get any better. The packaging is sleek, it has a brush tip applicator, and is really creamy and extremely easy to blend. Any beginner wanting to dive into the whole contour/highlight process, this would be a perfect place to start. I want to do an updated review and demo using both colors ELF has to offer on the Radiance Enhancer range. Coming Soon (: For now, grab yourself a Radiance Enhancer. You won't regret it!

Best Bronzer/Contour Powder

Laura Gellar Baked Blush n Brighten in Honey Dipped: 

I got this in my Birch Box in June of 2011 and it was the sole best thing I have ever received in any box. Even though it has shimmer in it, I find it to be the perfect contour powder for me. Any matte contour powder or bronzer I have tried just looks really tacky and muddy next to my fair skin. In the summer time, this is the perfect all over bronzer because I am a little bit darker. The powder is really nice and is easy to blend. After the 2 years I have had it, it is still my absolute favorite bronzer and I use it more than any other one I have. I have yet to even think about hitting the pan. Talk to me in 2015. Maybe I will hit pan then. Probably not. I have swatched this before here

Best Blush

YBF Golden Gleam Bronzer & Baby Pink Blush Duo: 

The bronzer side is nice, yes, but I want to pay tribute to the blush side. This is the blush I kept on going back to all year last year and will most likely continue to do so in 2013. When ever I can't make my mind up, this is my go to blush. It is such a pretty shimmery baby pink color that creates this beautiful flush on my cheeks. The phrase "lit from within" was made for this blush. I don't hear much about YBF Beauty but the company is a diamond in the rough! Check out HSN. They sell YBF (which is where I purchased it) value kits for a really good prices. Here's everything I got in my value kit when I ordered along with swatches of this duo. It's a really good blog post.

left: ybf blush/bronze duo. right: laura gellar baked blush n brighten

Best Eyeshadow

 Stila Eyeshadows

Yes, I own the Naked Palette and it's great and all, but not as great as the Stila eye shadows I own. The lighter shades in the Naked Palette aren't as pigmented as Kitten from Stila . Same thing goes for the matte shades. Stila's Kitten is my absolute favorite eye shadow in the world and thats because it doesn't take much to get pigment on my eyes. All of the Stila eye shadows I own are always so velvety, creamy and pigmented and I almost always use at least 1 of them on a daily basis. Here's a swatch I did of Kitten, Terracotta + Jezebel.  I would gladly do a blog post on my full Stila eye shadow collection. Those swatches are old. I can do a better job! Let me know if your interested.

Best Eye Liners
Any of the Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips

I picked these because they are the only drug store eye liner I used in 2012 that stayed in my water line the whole day and kept the pigment and didn't run down my face. I actually had a lot to say about these, so check out the review I did for them a couple days ago. You can also find swatches there too.

Best Mascara
Physician's Formula Organic Wear

I did a full review complete with pictures of the brush and it on my lashes. Check it out.

Top 10 Nail Polishes and Favorite Lip Products deserve their own separate blog post. Otherwise this blog post would be way too long! It might be labeled "Bestie's Award's" and it might not be. It depends on how long it takes me to get them up (: Don't worry! It will only take a couple weeks, tops.

What was your favorite product from last year?
Would you be interested in a Stila eyeshadow collection blog post?

till next time,
Erica

♥Wal-Mart Shopping Trip♥

Hey!

I have been doing some shopping here and there for the past couple weeks! I seriously love shopping! Shopping for clothes, makeup, books, & pointless things I probably don't need. I love shopping online. I love fake shopping online. Putting stuff in my cart and not buying it...yah no, just in case! I even love grocery shopping! I am the 1 that does the grocery shopping. Looking at different ads, calculating it all out, & finding inspiration from foodie blogs is my specialty! (: I think it would be fun to do a grocery shopping haul & maybe I will one day, but for now let me show you what I got at Wal-Mart!

1. Suave Mousse
I cannot tell you how many times I have re-purchased this. I have been using it on my hair since the 8th grade! First off, it smells amazing and you + other people could smell it throughout the day. It creates volume when added to the roots. I have wavy hair and what I have always used it for was for the days I wanted my hair to hold my natural curls and waves and didn't feel like straightening it or using a curling iron. I scrunch this into my hair, while my damp head of hair is flipped upside down (this and a couple other great curling products) and blow dry. The wetter the hair, the better to control frizz and give you natural curls. It's not going to make your hair look wet, or crunchy if you know what I mean. It is such a staple, I don't think I have ever even mentioned it here!

2. Hard Candy Matte Polish (Matte-ly in love):

I have wanted this for weeks! I have seen a nail blog or 2 put it over shimmery polishes, glitter polishes, & duo-chromes and have really wanted to give it a go. Right now I am wearing it over Blue It! from Sally Hansen. It's so pretty! If your on my main page & have a chance to scroll down, then you already know there will be at NOTW or 2 feat. Matte-ly in Love! As you can see I have been a little obsessive with nail polishes and nail art!

3. Hard Candy "Glow Away" Bronzer and Highlighting Duo:
It doesn't look like you get very much of either colors, but I have been looking for a nice bronze highlight. We will see if it works out. The bronze color has an orange undertone which I happen to like because I am pretty light. Orange undertones make me look more natural for the most part. Some other bronzers make me look muddy if it's too deep or leaning too much toward a brown undertone. For reference, I have cool undertones in my skin so that could be why too.

4. Dog Harness
I can't say this is really exiting (unless you are a proud new owner of your baby puppy!) but Stella needed another one badly. She chewed hers up and now the buckle will come off when she pulls hard enough on her old one. We were at the park and she was barking and pulling away to go see some other doggie's, and she got off of her leash because her old harness was busted. I was afraid she was gunna run over and either bark/bite/be mean/jump and play. You never know with her! She's wound up! When she got to the other doggie's, she stopped dead in her tracks, not barking or anything. She just wanted to sniff & sniff them! Good dog! She usually loves other doggies & kitties! It's people she is weary of! Smart puppy! LOL

I am positive I will mention these things even more in depth (besides the dog harness!) after I have used them to give you a proper review! I heart Wal-Mart.

Have you bought anything good from Wal-Mart or Hand Candy Lately?

Thank you for reading!

xoxo
Erica

Tarte Blush & Bronze on the Go

Something I almost never indulge in is higher end blush. In fact, this will be only my 2nd high blush. But I seriously love blush. I was just always completely happy with my drugstore blushes. Until, I heard that Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blushes actually have real staying power. My blush is always the first thing to go on my face. So, thank goodness for Ulta's check out counter. They always have higher end mini products for a fair price. Ulta's checkout counter is how I found out about another holy grail, anyways. So I figured why not?

You get 1 Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (.11 oz) + 1 Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess (.11 oz) for $15. To be completely honest, I don't see a reason to buy a full size (.20 oz). I feel as if I will not be hitting pan on these for a long time.

You already know how I feel about amazonian clay. I use it in my face wash (Kiehl's) and it is amazing. I like to fact that my blush is all natural, and actually good for you.  This blush has vitamin c, e & beeswax in it as well.

Because it is made with Amazonian clay, not only does it stay in place longer than any other blush, but it also "minimizes oil in and around pores to balance skin and keep product in place", as said by TarteCosmetics.com. I can say that statement is completely true. It's funny because I will get oily everywhere else besides where I have applied my blush and bronzer. It is good for other skin types too, see the benefits for your skin type on the site: Blush & Bronzer.

 

Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush

I was happy to find out Dollface was included in this deal. I have wanted it for ages. My skin is fair/light with warm undertones & I think it looks nice on my skin color. However, this is a pretty universal color. It is also fool-proof. Swipe your blush brush into the product. No need to even tap off the excess. It isn't chalky in the least bit (better not be!) And it is very buildable. There is no such thing as over doing it with this blush. I think part of this is because it blends like a dream. Can't say it lasts for 12 hours but I will say it lasts 3-4 hours. That's pretty good for a blush! It is described as a light pink.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave. Princess

This bronzer, like the blush has the same staying power & consistency (see above) It does have shimmer in it, but personally it doesn't bother me too much as long as it isn't chunky. I use it for contouring and I think it is the perfect shade for my skin tone/color. Unlike it's counter part Dollface, I think people with light/medium skin tones could pull this off as a contour. Any darker, and it would be nice for a sun kissed highlight, maybe? It can also be worn as an eyeshadow too! So if you want to try this duo out, it's not a complete miss if the bronzer is too light for your skin tone/color. The color is described as a shimmery gold.

Swatches:

*funny story*

While I was at work the other day, the owner had her niece and nephew come in, who are 2 & 4 years old. They are such sweet little babies! (The little boy got mad at his younger sister for calling him a bow. LOL!) Anyhow, the little girl came up to me and asked "whats on your cheek?". Hmmm....I was wondering myself what was on my cheek. When I looked in the mirror, there was nothing there but my blush! ha! That was 2 hours into my day so there you have proof it lasts!

I have always wanted to dive into the Tarte brand. I knew if I ever tried Tarte, it would automatically become 1 of my favorite high end brands. I still have yet to try the Amazonian Clay Foundation! That will be my next purchase from Tarte!

xoxo

Erica

YBF Beauty: Your Best Friend Beauty Haul/ First Impressions (pic heavy)

Hey guys! I am not sure if everybody is going to know the brand YBF. It could be because the only place you can buy stuff from the brand would be on HSN. I personally love YBF.  When I first found out about YBF a few years ago I was watching HSN but never ordered anything from the brand. But I did love watching her (Stacy, creator of YBF) using everything on camera and I lusted over it.   Then last year, I got a chance to try the Brow Pencil in Universal Taupe from my Birchbox. I quickly realized it was one of, if not my all time, favorite brow product. You guys have seen it showcased on Meet Makeup many times. This kit was the "Today's Special" and was $25 + $5 for shipping and handling. I think it was a great deal and a great way to try out some new-to-me products from this brand.

Everything Included In The Kit:

Brow Pencil in Universal Taupe

Brighten, Hide, & Scuplt Concealer

Golden Gleam Bronzer & Baby Pink Blush

Neutralizing Pressed Yellow Powder

Illuminating Creme & Neutralizing Creme

The main thing that used to get me wanting her makeup was the mention of the booklet you get which tells you how to use all of the products. I love that kind of stuff (obviously)! Here's some photo's of the booklet you get with all of the goodies. FYI, the booklet is a rubbery paper. It's neat. Some of the things it covered was brows, eyes, face, & lips complete with diagrams and the like. It is an awesome little book that any beauty blogger would love. I also think this would be a perfect little gift for a teenager because of the booklet. Here's some photos of a couples pages

Brow Pencil in Universal Taupe: Like I mentioned, this value pack came with another brow pencil. I didn't open it just yet because my other hasn't ran out yet. If you frequent Meet Makeup, then you have seen this Brow Pencil many times! The product itself is very skinny, making precise application achievable. That last sentence makes me sound very smart (:

Brighten, Hide & Sculpt Concealer: Ok as far as concealer goes, it isnt thick enough to be any type of concealer. I have never really thought of using a creamy product to contour so this was quite new to me. However, I have been loving the results it gives when I use the darkest color as a contour. For night time looks, I can even go back in with a contour powder and it's not going to look like it's too much. In the day, it is perfection. With the lightest color I think it is a nice subtle highlight since it is lighter then my skin color and it does have some sheen to it, but no shimmer. If you guys want a kind of "how-to" of sorts on how I use this, let me know because I would love to show it off!

Golden Gleam Bronzer & Baby Pink Blush: This is the one product that I am really exited about. I have been using it almost every day. When I swatched this blush, I thought it was the most beautiful blush I think I have ever swatched. Im not going explain, im just going to show you

no flash

flash

no flash

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Neutralizing Pressed Yellow Powder: I do have a lot of redness on my face so since yellow does neutralize red, I couldn't wait to try this out. When used with any powder brush it does not come off yellow on your face. When I swatch it though, it looks yellow.

 here it is, blended in. It looks almost non-existent, like it should.

Neutralizing Creme & Illuminating Creme: 

Neutralizing Creme: This is basically to neutralize any redness and it even mentions that it actually covers up fine lines and wrinkles...im not too sure how that would work though. I don't have any wrinkles just yet but it isn't anything different then your run-of-the-mill neutralizer. This is something I am going to have to keep using however it is much creamier than the "concealer" and will cover up much more then the concealer.

Illuminating Creme: I am one for highlights, it is my new obsession and I think I may do a blog post on my faves. But anyways, I was exited try this one out too. This formula is exceptionally creamy. So creamy that I make a dent from the slightest touch. I think this would be good in a tube/stick. Regardless, I really like it. It's a nice highlight.

these are the swatches from both the Illuminating Creme (top) and Neutralizing Creme (bottom).  The Neutralizing Creme I actually blended out for some reason.

So that's that for my YBF haul. Have you guys ever tried anything from YBF? If so, what have you tried? If not, are you thinking about trying any of these products now?

p.s. Shout out to Alyssa & Alex if you ya'll are reading!!! Shout out to the rest of yah too! love all you guys!

yours truly.

Erica J



Hard Candy Fox in a Box in Truth or Dare

I have always seen Hard Candy and bought a lipgloss that I loved from them a few years back but haven't really gave them another look.

Fox in a Box in Truth or Dare: ($6) This box really caught my eye, out of the whole row of cosmetics. I have been having a love affair with all things blush oriented and my love for pale/bubblegum pink blushes (or just color in general) made me wanna try this out. I also loved how the other side was a bronzer. Another plus is that the bronzer only has just the slightest bit of shimmer - I actually thought it was matte at first look. I love the idea of taking a blush brush, flat top, angled brush (what ever my preference for the day), swiping it across both colors, paying attention not to mix them too much, then applying both my contour (bronzer) and blush at the same time. Another option you have with this is to mix both the color together and use it that way: all over powder, blush, or bronzer. I had to have this baby!

I think Hard Candy was going for a Benefit type of feel with these boxes and this particular box reminds me of Benefit's "10" box, although they are not dupes by any means. I don't have Benefit's "10" powder, but they are clearly very different. Totally different colors. 10 has more of a highlight/bronzer thing going on. With Hard Candy's Fox in a Box line, the pan doesn't reach the bottom of the box, which is fine with me. There is 0.20 oz for $6, which is fair.

Bronzer Side: Even though this powder cannot really compare to a high end bronzer simply because it doesn't blend as easy as my Laura Gellar one does for example. I apply both of them the same way, my Laura Gellar Baked Blush in Brighten in Honey Dipped and the darker side of my Fox in a Box Truth or Dare, swirling brush into powder and then tapping off the excess. When I go to apply Honey Dipped, I do notice that it doesn't take much blending to get the color exactly where I want it. I like my contour color to kind of fade into my natural skin color eventually and with Honey Dipped there is no blending required. When I apply Truth or Dare, I find that the powder kinda just stays where ever your brush lands first (which for me would be at the top of my "fishy face"). It does take a few strokes to pull it down my face and blend it out. I do sometimes like to go back in with a clean brush just to do the trick.

As for the blush side, there really isnt much blending to do. There is some, but not as much as the bronzer side. When I apply blush, once I see the color on my face, I stop application. I don't do this with bronzer because I would want it to be a little bit more visible to create a shadow. What I like about the blush is that I really do not need a light hand, it doesn't pack on the color making me borderline clown status. Some of you may consider this a negative point, chalking it up to not having enough pigment. For me, this is perfect. Have I mentioned it makes for a really pretty color on my cheekies? it does! I love the color of it.

For $6 I do think this was a really great powder as it kills 2 birds with one stone. So 2 different powders, at $3 a piece. I can even go a step further and say it kills 3 birds with one stone making it $2 a piece for each color you can achieve. Can I even go a step further and include the brush it comes with as an investment.....not quite. I am not a brush snob, I always give them a go when they come with products. I personally like the velour puff most powders come with over any brush I have but with this blush brush, it just isn't the case. I find I get better application's when I use my Sigma F40 which is an angled brush. Even my Mark. Flat Top Kabuki brush will fit right into the box, so fear not if you purchase this box powder...as long as you have another good brush of course. I do leave the brush in it's elastic band in the box because it looks so cute sitting there. It is just there for decoration though. I wouldn't count on it.

Overall: I really like the powder and I find myself using it a lot. That could be because I just bought it like a month ago but I really do think it will be in a few favorites posts in the future. It is a beautiful powder. I am giving it a  

4 out of 5. 

The reason I am not giving it a 5

a.) The bronzer side isn't as blendable as I would prefer although it isn't impossible 

b.) the brush it comes with sucks, but it is cute.

Good Points:

a.) price $6

b.)the fact you are getting 3 different options with one powder, a contour, a blush, & the mixture of the 2
 c.) the blush side is beautiful and looks really nice on

d.) the packaging is so adorable I like to keep it out of the drawer.

You can grab this at Wal-Mart and that is the only place I have seen Hard Candy stuff.. Looking back on this review I seriously cannot believe I had that much to say about a freaking blush! haha! I guess I am just a beauty blogger at heart! I hope all of this info gave you guys some incite on it if you were on the fence about buying it.

Has anybody tried this? Whatcha think? Have you tried anything else Hard Candy? If so, What is your absolute favorite Hand Candy product?

As always, thank you so much for reading! If you made it through this thing, haha! 

xoxo,

Erica J

Contouring & Bronzing

I wanted to talk about ELF's blushing/bronzing duo initially, but once I started swatching & comparing it to other things. I think I detected some sort of dupe!

Elf Blushing/Bronzing Duo

This baby was $3 and it's a pretty big palette for the price! I bought it off of eyeslipsface.com and I have been using it ever since then. Like I mentioned in Oct Favs, it is highly pigmented! Remember to use a light hand and tap off your excess!

Bronzer- I am pretty fair and I feel many tones that are darker than me can pull this off, and also couple lighter than me as well- this is a pretty dark bronzer. I love this because it is matte, and not shimmery, which is perfect for contouring. Shimmer brings light to the place you apply it and I want to create more of a shadow effect when Im contouring, and not a highlighting effect. This color doesn't have an orange tint to it, as most bronzer's I have seen can have. You will notice in the swatches it a true brown, which I am likin'! Nice change compared to the others I have

Blushing- It is a pretty blush alone, but I like to use this with the bronzing side as well. With my angled face brush from Sigma, I dip in into each color 2x and then tap off the brush 4x. Hey, it works for me and im not too sure why this particular ritual does but what-ev's. I love doing this because I am so fair that it tones down the bronzer and makes it a more of an orangey tone as opposed to brown. It's really easy to mix and match to your perfect color if you wanna take this route.

When I use the duo the way I just mentioned, I like to go right above the hollow of my cheeks, and a little below where my blush would usually go. I find that this actually flatters me much better anymore for some reason, try it out with any bronzer you have- who knows, you might love it too!

efl duo: left: bronzer side right:blush side

Laura Gellar Blush n Brighten in Honey Dipped

Even though this has a shimmer in it, it works for me. This does have an orange tint to it which can be used for more than just contouring because of that- I sometimes like to dust it all over for a glowy finish.

Dupe

 Mixing Elf's blushing and bronzer duo together is extremely comparable to Laura

Gellar's Baked Blush N Brighten in Honey dipped. However there are a few difference's. As you can see, the Blush N Brighten does have some shimmer to it, and is more dimensional than the Elf duo mixed. I also think this has something to do with the baking process from cream to powder. 

left: Blush N Brighten right: Elf duo mixed together

Physician's Formula Cashmere Bronzer:

This is a much much lighter bronzer. If you are the lightest of light shade, this would be your bff - I love this bronzer because of that, in the dead of winter this is the bronzer I usually need to contour. This past fall, I have been using it over my foundation to boost up my complexion a bit. It is for the most part a matte powder with the slightest detectable shimmer to it that I never noticed until I did this blog post. If you are a darker tone, I think this would make an interesting highlight. Something I need to remember to try once I am tan again.

whats your favorite bronzer to contour it? 

what about your favorite to use all over your face to brighten it up? 

let us know in the comments! 

dont forget about the giveaway!!!

xoxo Erica J